1,721,016 research outputs found
Achieving reconstruction objectives within appropriate regulatory frameworks
No full textThe paper describes an on-going research that explores improvement schemes on the regulatory framework that will facilitate the implementation of reconstruction after disasters in New Zealand.
There is evidence suggesting that the existing regulatory provisions may cause procedural constraints, loss of pragmatism on the part of disaster practitioners, improper coordination arrangements coupled with unclear inter-agency responsibilities, which may eventually hinder the achievement of effective reconstruction programmes.
The research focus and methodology are presented, to give an insight into the opportunities for research that will proffer best practice guidelines for achieving reconstruction objectives through appropriate regulatory frameworks
An examination of improvements required to legislative provisions for post disaster reconstruction in New Zealand
No full textPrevious disaster management studies allude to the problems of coordination and the difficulties that may be associated with the implementation of recovery programmes in New Zealand. These studies have also indicated opportunities for improving the current recovery and reconstruction framework in advance of a major disaster. They have shown that much existing legislation were not drafted to cope with wide-scale devastations and were not developed to operate under the conditions that will inevitably prevail in the aftermath of a severe disaster.
This thesis therefore explores improvements that could be made to legislative provisions so that they facilitate large-scale recovery management in New Zealand. Three legislative documents are in view: Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Act, Resource Management Act (RMA) and Building Act (BA). The research investigations involved qualitative research methodology using multi-methods to determine the practical implication of implementing current reconstruction arrangement under these legislative documents. The methods employed include: interviews, document analysis, focus group study, surveys, and the use of subject matter experts for research verification.
Results show that the three legislative documents may become sources of vulnerability in post disaster reconstruction because of their influence on the timely achievement of recovery objectives. The impediments posed by these legislative documents are mainly in the form of procedural constraints; ambiguities in rights and responsibilities for recovery management; and deficiencies in the intents and purposes of the legislative documents. More general results show that pre-planning the management of disaster resources; and collaborative arrangements for response and recovery programmes are a pre-cursor to effective and efficient management of reconstruction in New Zealand.
The research concludes by providing useful recommendations that are specific to the three legislative documents and other general recommendations. It is hoped the implementation of these recommendations could improve the robustness of the current reconstruction framework so that it is able to cater for the complex needs of rebuilding for resilience in New Zealand
The framework for effective post-disaster reconstruction in New Zealand
No full textNew Zealand's vulnerability to natural disasters demands its proactive engagement in disaster management programmes so as to reduce ricks and eventually increase its resilience to future events. Previous disaster studies indicate opportunities for improving recovery and reconstruction.
This research study adopts a tripartite approach to evaluate current reconstruction strategies for effectiveness, while also exploring improvement schemes within policies and regulatory provisions. These learning oriented evaluations would provide information and data relevant to support best practice guidelines that will be suggested for achieving more robust reconstruction programmes
Achieving reconstruction objectives within appropriate regulatory frameworks
No full textThe paper describes an on-going research that explores improvement schemes on the regulatory framework that will facilitate the implementation of reconstruction after disasters in New Zealand.
There is evidence suggesting that the existing regulatory provisions may cause procedural constraints, loss of pragmatism on the part of disaster practitioners, improper coordination arrangements coupled with unclear inter-agency responsibilities, which may eventually hinder the achievement of effective reconstruction programmes.
The research focus and methodology are presented, to give an insight into the opportunities for research that will proffer best practice guidelines for achieving reconstruction objectives through appropriate regulatory frameworks
The framework for effective post-disaster reconstruction in New Zealand
No full textNew Zealand's vulnerability to natural disasters demands its proactive engagement in disaster management programmes so as to reduce ricks and eventually increase its resilience to future events. Previous disaster studies indicate opportunities for improving recovery and reconstruction.
This research study adopts a tripartite approach to evaluate current reconstruction strategies for effectiveness, while also exploring improvement schemes within policies and regulatory provisions. These learning oriented evaluations would provide information and data relevant to support best practice guidelines that will be suggested for achieving more robust reconstruction programmes
Construction payment delays and losses: perceptions of New Zealand
No full textPayment delays and losses are not a new phenomenon in the construction industry. Both of these combine to elevate the operational risks of construction businesses. In spite of new provisions in the Construction Contracts Act (CCA), New Zealand, construction businesses are still not immune to payment delays and losses. This study investigates the extent of the payment problem and possible solutions that could mitigate payment risks on construction projects. An online questionnaire survey was administered to contractors, subcontractors and consultants for their opinions on the issue. The study found that payment delays and losses are experienced by
contractors (10-40%) and subcontractors (10-80%) on the total projects undertaken by them since the CCA implementation. Retention sums are very often delayed while final and interim payments are delayed less than often. Contractors and subcontractors indicated that payment bonds, direct payments and the use of trust accounts were preferred solutions to the payment problems experienced by industry
The nature of payment problems in the New Zealand construction industry
No full textDelay and loss of payment is a serious problem in the construction industry of many countries. These affect the cash flow of contractors which is critical to meeting their financial obligations. Payment defaults by the principal leads to insolvency of contractors and in turn other parts of the project chain. In recognition of some of these problems, most countries have established payment-specific construction industry legislation and other contractual measures to mitigate the problems, but nevertheless the problem persists. In this context, the paper examines the nature of payment problems in the construction industry in New Zealand. It is part of a larger study, that seeks solutions to payment losses in the construction industry.The study uses two approaches; an analysis of liquidators’ reports, and an analysis of court cases involving payment disputes to determine the magnitude of payment problems on construction parties. The findings are presented using simple descriptive and interpretive analyses. The study finds that trade creditors are impacted negatively (payment delays and losses) by the liquidation of property developers, general construction and construction trade companies. 75% of trade creditors are unable to be paid fully by these categories of construction companies after liquidation proceedings. Liquidation proceedings take an average 18 months before they are finalised. The analysis of court cases found that 80% of payment disputes are between principals and contractors; with considerably significant percentage of disputes resulting in outright loss of payments. Only 40% of the cases are successful, in which case claimants are able to fully recover the amount in dispute. Payment losses are more prevalent in liquidation than delays and unlike in legal disputes, there is no security for those losses. The study finds that construction parties use remedies contained in the security of payment provisions within standard conditions of contract, and legislative documents
Evaluating the adequacy of installed ventilation systems in high rise buildings in Nairobi, Kenya
No full textSustainable passive ventilation has been promoted as the way forward in ventilation systems in Sub-Saharan Africa. Whether this is real or factual will be determined by this investigation on how well installed ventilation systems meet the comfort needs of office building occupants. The study gave an indication of the priorities that were attached to climatic suitability of ventilation designs in high rise office buildings. The study investigates the use of both mechanical and natural ventilation systems in some high rise office buildings. It provides information on one hand, on the level of adoption of ventilation systems in office buildings located in the Central Business District (CBD) in Nairobi, Kenya, and on the other hand, the adequacy of the installed ventilation systems as perceived by the building occupants. 34 tenants of high rise buildings located in the CBD area were purposively sampled and were the units of the study analysis. Analysis of their responses was presented using simple descriptive and interpretative techniques. The study finds that installed ventilation systems were inadequate and rarely meet tenants' needs in high rise buildings. Occupants require greater flexibility in ventilation design and desire ventilation systems that could incorporate some measure of individual control of air circulation to enhance their general comfort
Review of methods for mitigating payment risks in construction: the case of New Zealand
No full textTraditional payment methods in the construction industry create risk of payment delays and losses. The issue has been persistent since the early 1960’s, with constructions parties suffering dire consequences. Many legislative & contractual, and administrative solutions are in use but these measures have not adequately addressed the payment losses experienced by lower tier parties due to the insolvency of upper tiers, especially losses to contractors due to client insolvency. This paper reviews some of the solutions that could be used to protect against client insolvency.
It is revealed that legal provisions in security of payment Acts cater for losses due to deferred payments but not for insolvency payment losses. Acts provide adjudication for non-payment which is not effective in cases of insolvency when a company goes into liquidation because claimants may not be able to recover monies due. Some of the Acts have abolished contingent payment provisions’ while some have counter clauses with similar objectives. However as a contractual solution, the conditions of contract in New Zealand (NZS 3910:2003) enables contractors to obtain payment bonds from clients as security. If a client fails to provide the bond, contractors could terminate the contract at inception.
Other security mechanisms such as Buildsafe security scheme and direct payments are in practice; while potential solutions like bonds and guarantees, payment default or insolvency insurance; registration and prequalification of upper tiers; are in consideration. Further study is needed to assess these solutions in terms of their costs and benefits as viable solution(s) to payment losses
Review of methods for mitigating payment risks in construction: the case of New Zealand
No full textTraditional payment methods in the construction industry create risk of payment delays and losses. The issue has been persistent since the early 1960’s, with constructions parties suffering dire consequences. Many legislative & contractual, and administrative solutions are in use but these measures have not adequately addressed the payment losses experienced by lower tier parties due to the insolvency of upper tiers, especially losses to contractors due to client insolvency. This paper reviews some of the solutions that could be used to protect against client insolvency.
It is revealed that legal provisions in security of payment Acts cater for losses due to deferred payments but not for insolvency payment losses. Acts provide adjudication for non-payment which is not effective in cases of insolvency when a company goes into liquidation because claimants may not be able to recover monies due. Some of the Acts have abolished contingent payment provisions’ while some have counter clauses with similar objectives. However as a contractual solution, the conditions of contract in New Zealand (NZS 3910:2003) enables contractors to obtain payment bonds from clients as security. If a client fails to provide the bond, contractors could terminate the contract at inception.
Other security mechanisms such as Buildsafe security scheme and direct payments are in practice; while potential solutions like bonds and guarantees, payment default or insolvency insurance; registration and prequalification of upper tiers; are in consideration. Further study is needed to assess these solutions in terms of their costs and benefits as viable solution(s) to payment losses
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